Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1887-07-23

sling and apiece Of bicycle IN my back
am not as proud as i was yesterday
neither am I as pretty. There Is a sort OF
unnatural feeling about my frame, as
/ though NV SPINAL column had broken ranks,
and each Vertebra had crowded out be-
tween different ribs. There Is also broad
/ eXpanse Of raw scalp in the nelghborhood
of the occipital bone, and the paretals
have acquired several new styles OF suturesi
and my nose Temporarily recllnes IN the
shade Of NV ear. A man may be 2 good
nudge Of hOrsehesh, and yet know but very
little concerning the disposition and every
day habits Of the bicycle. he may even
understand the construction and acuon or
the mule, and yet he viii md more gentle
surprises to the square inch in a full
grown and active bicycle than he ever
heard of in his natural life. That has been
my experience. Two weeks ago. pur-
chased an iEon-gray bicycle, about seven
teen hands high, and had It led around TO
my stable. 1t was q sIYnsn, hghDred
thing, with proud mlen and close-cropped
tail. For a while / allowed it to browse
about on the lawn last night; then COM
menced making OYertures toward It.
For O time it repealed my ad-
vances and appeared shy and girl
ish, but gradually becoming accustomed
10 my style Of management, It leaned
familiarly against me, and allowed me to
pick up its hind wheel, and look at its
teeth, and, finally as a last token Of conf
denee and esteem, it laid its head on my
shoulder, and in a sweet, cOnhding way,
snickered in my ear.
Then, with the grace and abandon of a
wild brOnchO trainer, I led It out on the
avenue and prepared to mount the subdued
racer. My wife was standing in the door
way, with a sort of doubtful smile upon
her face, and, telling her that 1 would not
be gone long, as only intended to ride
mile or two that might get in trim to win
H. 70 TaAna TOD al
side the bicycle. 1 did this to make the
creature feel more acquainted, and to show
it that intended to be gentle with it and
not lab my heels into its ribs, and belt it
over the head, and yell like a Comanche
after scaips. After trotting along in this
manner for a rod or two I put my foot in
the stirrup and swung into the saddle.
This sudden movement probably surprised
1t, for It looked reproachfully at me as
though 1 lad tritied with It's confidence. It
evidently thought We were out for little
play spell, and were billed to trot around
the square together, as a team. For a
moment 1t continued It's course, and
proudly gathered up the reins; then a
dreamy, troubled look came into its
eyes, and, concluding that had
been hornsWoggled into buying a bicycle
that was subject to fits, I dismeunted. My
usual style Of dismOun6ng is to strike the
ground feet first, this time varied the
programme and introduced several new and
strictly original features. 1t is a terrible
thing to witness a full-groWn bicycle in the
agoniZing thrOes of a seventeen by-tWenty-
nine fit. There Is something novel and
aWe-inspiring about it to the man who is
blindly endeaVoring to grope his way out
from under a frisky bicycle. When you
are aboard the bicycle there are only two
wheels. but when the thing playfully sits
straddle of your neck, there seem to be
fourteen wheels and eleven dozen handles
with nickel-pIated points. changed my
mind about entering my name in the racing
lists to-day, and have concluded that it is